September 28: World Maritime Day

The World Maritime Day (WMD) is observed every year on September 28 to highlight importance of shipping safety, maritime security and marine environment and to acknowledge maritime industry.
The 2017 theme of the day is ‘Connecting Ships, Ports and People’. It was chosen to provide an opportunity to focus on many diverse actors involved in shipping and logistics industry. It aims to focus on helping International Maritime Organization (IMO) member states to develop and implement maritime strategies to invest in a joined-up, interagency approach that addresses whole range of issues, including facilitation of maritime transport, increasing efficiency, navigational safety, protection of marine environment, and maritime security.

Background

The World Maritime Day marks date of adaptation of International Maritime Organization (IMO) Convention in 1958. The day was first observed in 1978. The IMO’s original name was the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organization (IMCO) but it was changed to IMO in 1982.

International Maritime Organization (IMO)

IMO is a specialised agency of the United Nations responsible for regulating shipping. It was established in 1948 in Geneva as ICMO and came into force in 1959. Its headquarters are in London, United Kingdom.
IMO has 171 member states and 3 associate members. India was one of the earliest members of the IMO and had joined it as a member-state in 1959. Its functions are to develop and maintain a comprehensive regulatory framework for shipping and its remit. This framework addresses various areas like safety, legal matters, environmental concerns, technical co-operation, maritime security and efficiency of shipping.

Month: Current Affairs - September, 2017